to think of Miri on the roof above.
As it did in fog, even the slightest sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Miri tried not to focus on the mist but to let her eyes unfocus so her peripheral vision would catch the hint of movement within the murk.
At first she thought she imagined what she was seeing but then she became sure of it, sensing presences within the fog, some stronger than others. She’d never used her Sight like this before but the need now was too strong. And Ash was out there. Alone. Strong, silent Ash with his pain buried so deep, deeper than the scars etched in his flesh.
This had been the one thing missing in her life, the one thing she’d searched for, this sense of connection, of completeness, that she’d found with him. A day, a month, a year, when you found it you knew it and she’d found it with him.
Keeping low and to the center of the long wing of the hotel roof, she ran lightly and quietly down the length of the building, staring through the thick fog. She willed her senses to be wrong, that those half-seen shadows were nothing more than her imagination.
They weren’t.
Shadows moved in the fog between the building and the exit from the parking lot. Beyond was the white bulk of the propane tank and the tall stands of pine. Even as she watched, she sensed as much as saw figures move among the towering boles of the trees.
There were dozens of them.
For a moment, she was frozen with fear. Not for herself, but Ash. Did he know?
On light feet, she ran back toward the break in the roof that was the landing over the stairs.
She could sense Ash’s determination and beyond him in the distance more men closing in on them.
All of them seeking her.
For a moment, only a moment, she considered surrendering, giving them what they wanted if only to spare Ash. They’d kill him, they’d made that clear.
But she knew Ash would come after her. He’d risk himself, sacrifice himself, to get her free and she couldn’t bear to have him do that.
Ash , she sent, putting her heart and soul into his name, not knowing if it would work.
Below, Ash let the man in his hands drop, the man’s neck broken swiftly and silently even as Miri’s alarm raced through him.
He went still, his senses on full alert as the rest drew close enough for him to sense them, too. They were surrounded.
Even if he were to call the lightning, in the lightening darkness he could only be sure of taking out those closest but not before someone alerted the others. It wouldn’t be enough. Nor could they escape easily. The men moving through the trees would hear his motorcycle, no matter how quietly it ran.
There was no chance even for Miri, alone, to escape. He had no doubt that others like these waited on the other side of the motel for just that eventuality.
Templeton, or his minion Hargrove, weren’t taking any chances.
It reminded him sharply, painfully, of those last moments in his village, seeing the dying and knowing that for all his skills in battle, for all his skills at healing, he couldn’t save them, not all of them, not until the last of the invaders was defeated or fled. Knowing that for some of his people, loved ones, friends, he would be too late.
As now. He and Miri were trapped.
Miri, sensing the despair that took him, grasped the edge of the coping at the edge of the roof, rolled over it and dropped down to the landing.
She ran to him.
For a moment, she went still looking at the dead men around him.
Unarmed and barehanded, Ash had taken on three armed and armored men.
Ash felt her as much as sensed her as she ran down the stairs, saw her go still as she stared in shock and horror at what he’d done. His heart went still as well.
Then she turned, her eyes met his and she ran to him.
He crushed her to him, curled one hand around her head in relief and gratitude.
Miri looked up into his handsome face, at the despair in his golden eyes. She raised a hand to his face and touched his
As it did in fog, even the slightest sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Miri tried not to focus on the mist but to let her eyes unfocus so her peripheral vision would catch the hint of movement within the murk.
At first she thought she imagined what she was seeing but then she became sure of it, sensing presences within the fog, some stronger than others. She’d never used her Sight like this before but the need now was too strong. And Ash was out there. Alone. Strong, silent Ash with his pain buried so deep, deeper than the scars etched in his flesh.
This had been the one thing missing in her life, the one thing she’d searched for, this sense of connection, of completeness, that she’d found with him. A day, a month, a year, when you found it you knew it and she’d found it with him.
Keeping low and to the center of the long wing of the hotel roof, she ran lightly and quietly down the length of the building, staring through the thick fog. She willed her senses to be wrong, that those half-seen shadows were nothing more than her imagination.
They weren’t.
Shadows moved in the fog between the building and the exit from the parking lot. Beyond was the white bulk of the propane tank and the tall stands of pine. Even as she watched, she sensed as much as saw figures move among the towering boles of the trees.
There were dozens of them.
For a moment, she was frozen with fear. Not for herself, but Ash. Did he know?
On light feet, she ran back toward the break in the roof that was the landing over the stairs.
She could sense Ash’s determination and beyond him in the distance more men closing in on them.
All of them seeking her.
For a moment, only a moment, she considered surrendering, giving them what they wanted if only to spare Ash. They’d kill him, they’d made that clear.
But she knew Ash would come after her. He’d risk himself, sacrifice himself, to get her free and she couldn’t bear to have him do that.
Ash , she sent, putting her heart and soul into his name, not knowing if it would work.
Below, Ash let the man in his hands drop, the man’s neck broken swiftly and silently even as Miri’s alarm raced through him.
He went still, his senses on full alert as the rest drew close enough for him to sense them, too. They were surrounded.
Even if he were to call the lightning, in the lightening darkness he could only be sure of taking out those closest but not before someone alerted the others. It wouldn’t be enough. Nor could they escape easily. The men moving through the trees would hear his motorcycle, no matter how quietly it ran.
There was no chance even for Miri, alone, to escape. He had no doubt that others like these waited on the other side of the motel for just that eventuality.
Templeton, or his minion Hargrove, weren’t taking any chances.
It reminded him sharply, painfully, of those last moments in his village, seeing the dying and knowing that for all his skills in battle, for all his skills at healing, he couldn’t save them, not all of them, not until the last of the invaders was defeated or fled. Knowing that for some of his people, loved ones, friends, he would be too late.
As now. He and Miri were trapped.
Miri, sensing the despair that took him, grasped the edge of the coping at the edge of the roof, rolled over it and dropped down to the landing.
She ran to him.
For a moment, she went still looking at the dead men around him.
Unarmed and barehanded, Ash had taken on three armed and armored men.
Ash felt her as much as sensed her as she ran down the stairs, saw her go still as she stared in shock and horror at what he’d done. His heart went still as well.
Then she turned, her eyes met his and she ran to him.
He crushed her to him, curled one hand around her head in relief and gratitude.
Miri looked up into his handsome face, at the despair in his golden eyes. She raised a hand to his face and touched his
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